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cschmelz

macrumors 6502
Jun 6, 2007
342
107
Can this be used with the concealed display as well??

Yes. You just need a good phone line splitter (not all work right for the V1) but there are supported splitters that allow you to use both the V1LE and the concealed display.
 

mabhatter

macrumors 65816
Jan 3, 2009
1,022
388
Obviously bad laws should be struck down. Maybe it should be legal to drive safely.

But if speed laws ARE helpful, and they exist, it boggles my mind that it's legal to sell devices for the specific purpose of breaking those laws.

I wish I could say it surprises me that people WANT to drive faster than legal, drive through red lights/stop signs, drive drunk etc.

But having almost been killed by such a person, and my father as well (in a separate incident, neither one involving impairment or alcohol), this no longer surprises me.

Most radar used now, setup properly, will detect you speeding before you see the officer. Detectors really aren't worth the hassle anymore because even cheap police radars calculate fast enough that if your detector goes off, they already got your speed.

I suppose you gain if the detector was just sitting on all the time or the officer ws tagging somebody else... Then your option is to get safely to the speed limit before they tag you.. Which from the police point of view is what the want anyway.

If I was police id be putting radar transmitters along the highway with nobody watching and just ping them every 20 minutes randomly to slow people down... Occasionally send a real officer to actually write tickets after all the false alarms!
 

Berknip

macrumors member
Nov 2, 2010
36
0
Ok, I'll bite: which OBD2 monitor are you using? The GoPoint BT1? I want to get one, but not one that costs $120.

Sort of getting back to the topic here, it's awesome that all of that stuff works at the same time.

I have the Automatic. It's decent for what it does and what I use it for (keeping track of mileage for business expenses). I have higher expectations for it with updates.

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That's awesome - Until a BMW with adaptive cruise is behind you. May as well turn it off.

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I actually own a vehicle with side lane assist and adaptive cruise. For this you simply have to disable POP which points out another nice feature of the iPhone app. You can customize the V1 configuration (bands, etc.) using the iPhone app and setup profiles. If you want to take the V1 to a different vehicle, you just select the proper profile and it will update your V1 appropriately.
 

bflowers

macrumors 6502a
Jul 19, 2006
636
136
If I was police id be putting radar transmitters along the highway with nobody watching and just ping them every 20 minutes randomly to slow people down... Occasionally send a real officer to actually write tickets after all the false alarms!

They more or less did this on I-55 in Illinois just north of I-270 and I-70. They have about 40 miles worth of those stupid construction message signs equipped with radar transmitters. I believe they are on the Ka band, it's infuriating. You might as well set the cruise for 3 over and leave it. You could risk it and ignore that band, and count on the cops using Ku or Ladar, but then what's the point of even having a detector.
 

ROLLTIDE1

macrumors 68000
Sep 12, 2012
1,901
596
They more or less did this on I-55 in Illinois just north of I-270 and I-70. They have about 40 miles worth of those stupid construction message signs equipped with radar transmitters. I believe they are on the Ka band, it's infuriating. You might as well set the cruise for 3 over and leave it. You could risk it and ignore that band, and count on the cops using Ku or Ladar, but then what's the point of even having a detector.

most places you can easily do 5 to 10 over and have nothing to worry about
 

Jacquesass

macrumors regular
May 6, 2003
211
40
I've owned a V1 for a while now, it's awesome. Ordered this Bluetooth LE accessory last week, and it arrived today. It just works -- and it's super awesome! Will even generate local notifications on the device if in the background (say, while your GPS app is in the foreground).

I have this as well and like it better than the remote display. You can shut off the display to the V1 and just use the app. Great if you have your iphone in a mount, which I do (ProClip also FTW).

I have a request for you two - and I hope it isn't too much to ask. Could either of you PLEASE grab a screenshot of the background alert coming across while Waze (or another GPS) is showing? I've been a longtime V1 user (just sent it back for it's third update) and am contemplating getting it permanently mounted. This app sounds great - but there's no way that I'm going to turn Waze off - it's saved my bacon a bunch of times.

Thanks in advance!
 

jlgolson

Contributing Editor
Jun 2, 2011
383
8
Durango, CO
They more or less did this on I-55 in Illinois just north of I-270 and I-70. They have about 40 miles worth of those stupid construction message signs equipped with radar transmitters. I believe they are on the Ka band, it's infuriating. You might as well set the cruise for 3 over and leave it. You could risk it and ignore that band, and count on the cops using Ku or Ladar, but then what's the point of even having a detector.
There is a feature of the V1, the Traffic Monitor filter, that supposedly disables alerts for these transmitters. http://www.valentine1.com/Lab/TechReport3.asp

Most radar used now, setup properly, will detect you speeding before you see the officer. Detectors really aren't worth the hassle anymore because even cheap police radars calculate fast enough that if your detector goes off, they already got your speed.
Gonna have to disagree with you there. Out here in the middle of nowhere, my V1 routinely picks up cops who leave their radar running constantly from more than a mile, and sometimes as many as three miles away. This is more than far enough to slow down.

In the city, this may be more true -- but, in the city, they're using laser anyway.
 

ROLLTIDE1

macrumors 68000
Sep 12, 2012
1,901
596
I have a request for you two - and I hope it isn't too much to ask. Could either of you PLEASE grab a screenshot of the background alert coming across while Waze (or another GPS) is showing? I've been a longtime V1 user (just sent it back for it's third update) and am contemplating getting it permanently mounted. This app sounds great - but there's no way that I'm going to turn Waze off - it's saved my bacon a bunch of times.

Thanks in advance!

Valentine doesn't update them they give you a new one if you pay the upgrade fee. You are better of selling it and buying a new one :)
 

cschmelz

macrumors 6502
Jun 6, 2007
342
107
I have a request for you two - and I hope it isn't too much to ask. Could either of you PLEASE grab a screenshot of the background alert coming across while Waze (or another GPS) is showing? I've been a longtime V1 user (just sent it back for it's third update) and am contemplating getting it permanently mounted. This app sounds great - but there's no way that I'm going to turn Waze off - it's saved my bacon a bunch of times.

Thanks in advance!

It is just a standard banner notification, just like a text/iMessage coming across.
 

djgamble

macrumors 6502a
Oct 25, 2006
989
500
Obviously bad laws should be struck down. Maybe it should be legal to drive safely.

But if speed laws ARE helpful, and they exist, it boggles my mind that it's legal to sell devices for the specific purpose of breaking those laws.

I wish I could say it surprises me that people WANT to drive faster than legal, drive through red lights/stop signs, drive drunk etc.

But having almost been killed by such a person, and my father as well (in a separate incident, neither one involving impairment or alcohol), this no longer surprises me.


In Australia it's definitely not legal to have these things. I know people who got caught 20+ years ago and nobody uses them anymore because you WILL get busted and charged with a criminal offence so it's pretty dumb. I'll just take the speeding ticket instead.
 

puckhead193

macrumors G3
May 25, 2004
9,570
852
NY
This when used with my laser jammer makes trips more fun:D

laser interceptors FTW!
Looks interesting. I have a Beltronics STiR Plus and Laser Jammers and i'm a happy camper. Wish Beltronics would make an app to make settings easier...
 

techwhiz

macrumors 65816
Feb 22, 2010
1,297
1,804
Northern Ca.
Can this be used with the concealed display as well??

Yes.

The bus is open collector. You need nothing more than a telephone splitter to use them both.

I have my concealed display, I also have my phone sometimes sitting in the space that blocks my concealed display so I can charge it.

Instead of living with a blocked display I bring it up on the phone.

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In Australia it's definitely not legal to have these things. I know people who got caught 20+ years ago and nobody uses them anymore because you WILL get busted and charged with a criminal offence so it's pretty dumb. I'll just take the speeding ticket instead.

But they are not illegal on most of America for auto drivers.
They are for truck drivers.

They are completely legal to have where I live and it's an effective tool to know in some places where the speed limit suddenly changes.

There is fixed radar near most schools in the area where I live.
I know I'm approaching a school zone before I see it.
I can slow down so I am no speeding through a school zone when I get to it.

People should stop trying to project what the intentions of others are based on your own preconceived notions.

Everybody using a radar/lidar detector isn't a criminal.
It only allows me to be aware of my surroundings.

Here in California, if you don't want a ticket on the highway; stay out of the passing lane and don't be the fastest thing on the freeway if you are speeding.

BTW - My V1 is an invaluable tool.
 

jona2125

macrumors 6502a
Jul 12, 2010
780
651
Dude... it's a radar detector, not a stop sign defeater or red light changer. Way to go off on a tangent.

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You won't disclose because you don't know what you are talking about, or because you want to say "Na, na, na, na, na, na. I know something you don't?"

Actually no because I do know what I'm talking about.. It's called Instant-On. There's a method that's faster (and makes the V1 fall on it's face) but you'll have to dig up your own information.

To get you started on your ignorance, there's a demonstration.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s1QOjX8TL8
 
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FlyMeAway

macrumors newbie
Oct 25, 2013
8
-4
Actually no because I do know what I'm talking about.. It's called Instant-On. There's a method that's faster (and makes the V1 fall on it's face) but you'll have to dig up your own information.

To get you started on your ignorance, there's a demonstration.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s1QOjX8TL8

Instant-on does a good job cheating cheap radar detectors. It does less of a job defeating the better ones like the V1 or the Escort Redline, unless you're on a totally empty highway. My V1 detects KA-band in Instant-On when the cop is targeting cars a mile or two ahead of me. In reasonably constant traffic, you can tell exactly what is going on. If you're the only car on the road, it'll work, but otherwise you just pick up the cop trying to pick up everybody else. I've been a V1 owner for four years and this has happened to me maybe half a dozen times.

Lidar, on the other hand (known as "laser") does a great job of defeating most detectors, unless you've installed lidar-reflective paint on common targets on your vehicle, like headlights and license plate (you can Google it).

I agree with the other posts -- something like the V1 is designed to avoid speed traps, or ensure that even if you're driving safely you don't get a ticket. You can be driving safely at 85 or 90; it all depends on the road conditions and the speed of the rest of the traffic. Speeding and driving safely are not entirely connected. For example, the sections of the autobahn with no speed limit have fewer fatalities per driven passenger mile than most sections of highway in the US.
 

cschmelz

macrumors 6502
Jun 6, 2007
342
107
Anyone know if the programming changes you make with the V1LE is persistant?

I have 2 V1s in 2 cars. It would be nice to use my single V1LE to custom program each unit and then just keep the V1LE in my vehicle that doesn't have a custom (colored LEDs) concealed display.
 

jona2125

macrumors 6502a
Jul 12, 2010
780
651
Instant-on does a good job cheating cheap radar detectors. It does less of a job defeating the better ones like the V1 or the Escort Redline, unless you're on a totally empty highway. My V1 detects KA-band in Instant-On when the cop is targeting cars a mile or two ahead of me. In reasonably constant traffic, you can tell exactly what is going on. If you're the only car on the road, it'll work, but otherwise you just pick up the cop trying to pick up everybody else. I've been a V1 owner for four years and this has happened to me maybe half a dozen times.

Lidar, on the other hand (known as "laser") does a great job of defeating most detectors, unless you've installed lidar-reflective paint on common targets on your vehicle, like headlights and license plate (you can Google it).

I agree with the other posts -- something like the V1 is designed to avoid speed traps, or ensure that even if you're driving safely you don't get a ticket. You can be driving safely at 85 or 90; it all depends on the road conditions and the speed of the rest of the traffic. Speeding and driving safely are not entirely connected. For example, the sections of the autobahn with no speed limit have fewer fatalities per driven passenger mile than most sections of highway in the US.

Instant-On isn't an issue for the $400+ Detectors at all. Even some of the better Whistlers can do a good job keeping up with it. It's the other method that is far lesser known and I'd like to keep it that way that really gets by even the best detectors. It's way faster and way harder to detect in advanced due to the very short duration it transmits. You are right about being able to pick up IO from a far though just due to the nature of how radar works.

As far as LIDAR, it in fact does defect all detectors. You might get lucky, and I mean lucky, and catch scatter from a vehicle being targeted in front of you and be able to slow down enough but otherwise LIDAR is not something a radar detector will be able to warn you in advance with, the detector simply turns into an alarm that tells you that you just got a ticket.

The coatings as you are referring to are getting better and better. Veil is an ever developing product that lately has done a great job to passively "jam" LIDAR. It's not reflective paint though. LIDAR uses reflection to get a reading, it actually absorbs the incoming light from the laser. Anyone serious about Radar detectors and the accompanying protective options available should definitely change they're sources if their reading some of this stuff and taking it for true.

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Anyone know if the programming changes you make with the V1LE is persistant?

I have 2 V1s in 2 cars. It would be nice to use my single V1LE to custom program each unit and then just keep the V1LE in my vehicle that doesn't have a custom (colored LEDs) concealed display.

Your custom sweeps will be saved to the V1. It seems to go back on forth as to whether or not it does but for the most part I am reading that it does. If you have an issue, PM me about it and I will get a solution as quickly as possible.
 
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kuwxman

macrumors 6502a
Jul 25, 2009
850
957
Kansas City
I do this wacky thing called driving at the speed limit. Never had a ticket yet!

I do this crazy thing of driving five over while also paying attention to my surroundings...in a sporty car. Like you, no tickets. Radar detectors are for lazy suckers. Better not question the RD folks though, they get defensive about their 'investment.'
 

jona2125

macrumors 6502a
Jul 12, 2010
780
651
I do this crazy thing of driving five over while also paying attention to my surroundings...in a sporty car. Like you, no tickets. Radar detectors are for lazy suckers. Better not question the RD folks though, they get defensive about their 'investment.'

They just have enthusiasm about it. They drive a totally different style (the enthusiast level guys anyway) but have a lot of experience on how to do so safely. They understand that a RD does not make you invincible. It's a tool and nothing more. There's just a very lot more that it can do for you if you really take the time to understand all the principles of what it actually is doing after starting off with being an observant driver.

But yes it can be quite an investment, but if you really know what you're doing you can, absolutely, go into a trap speeding and drive through ticket free, even if it's a LIDAR trap. And to some people that means they get to drive at what they're comfortable driving at which for them would mean the cost in possible tickets, sometimes even just one ticket plus court costs, that they were able to avoid covers their entire setup.

To rephrase what you said, Cobra radar detectors are for lazy suckers.
 

Jacquesass

macrumors regular
May 6, 2003
211
40
Valentine doesn't update them they give you a new one if you pay the upgrade fee. You are better of selling it and buying a new one :)

Yes and no. If it's a minor update they may upgrade the software or swap boards inside. If it involves the main board - or any changes to the external case - you get a new detector.

And, yes, I could eBay it and buy a new one for less than the upgrade fee - but then I have to deal with eBay, PayPal, the random dude who bought it, etc. I'd rather pay a little extra and just deal with VR directly.

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It is just a standard banner notification, just like a text/iMessage coming across.

What does it say? Does it tell you in front or behind? Does it give a strength? Does it tell the number of "bogies"? How often does the notification update?

Not trying to be difficult, but the app's "demo" mode conveniently does not allow background notifications...
 

takeshi74

macrumors 601
Feb 9, 2011
4,974
68
If I was police id be putting radar transmitters along the highway with nobody watching and just ping them every 20 minutes randomly to slow people down...
In the real world there are budgets to contend with but don't let that ruin your cop fantasy. :p

Speeding tickets aren't about safety. They're about revenue generation because there's so much low hanging fruit (at least in the jurisdiction I live in).

Actually no because I do know what I'm talking about.. It's called Instant-On. There's a method that's faster (and makes the V1 fall on it's face) but you'll have to dig up your own information.
The tech you're describing isn't used in all jurisdictions, often isn't used even if available, and there are other methods for mitigating in most conditions. In my real world experience none of these are issues for my V1 where I drive. YMMV of course but that's why each needs to due his/her own due diligence before buying.

I do this crazy thing of driving five over while also paying attention to my surroundings...in a sporty car. Like you, no tickets. Radar detectors are for lazy suckers. Better not question the RD folks though, they get defensive about their 'investment.'
As stated earlier, an RD is just a tool -- not a replacement for situational awareness. Laziness + RD is setting one's self up for fail. Even with a RD one has to be aware. If one wants to drive without paying attention then cruise control set to the speed limit is a better suited solution though driving without paying attention is a bad idea regardless.

No need to defend my RD. It does what I need to do. If 5 over works for you then by all means go for it. One size never fits all and there's this "crazy thing" called doing what works for the individual which is what each should do.

To rephrase what you said, Cobra radar detectors are for lazy suckers.
It's really more ignorant/cheap from what I've seen.
 
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furi0usbee

macrumors 68000
Jul 11, 2008
1,790
1,382
Actually no because I do know what I'm talking about.. It's called Instant-On. There's a method that's faster (and makes the V1 fall on it's face) but you'll have to dig up your own information.

Oh, so you *don't* know what you are talking about. That answers my question.
 

iZac

macrumors 68030
Apr 28, 2003
2,607
2,817
UK
I had no idea what this was until I googled it, but I don't agree with a device who's sole reason for existing is to help you drive over the limit without impunity.

Wether it has an iOS companion device or not, I don't really think it should in effect be promoted by mac rumours.
 
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